The CEO of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, a top matchmaker for bank mergers, explains why large banks will soon return to dealmaking after a long absence, the case for starting new banks and the enduring value of branches.

The company will gain more than $500 million in assets after buying Eastman National and Cache Holdings.

Buying Capital Bank puts the company on a fast track for more regulatory scrutiny. Executives are identifying ways to boost revenue and taking other measures so it can handle the change.

While industry consolidation remains slow compared with previous years, certain regions are humming along with strong volume and improved pricing. Here’s a look at each region based on June 30 data from KBW and S&P Global Market Intelligence.

First Horizon reported lower fee income in the second quarter. The company said it is making progress planning for its pending purchase of Capital Bank Financial.

First Citizens is pressuring KS Bancorp to sell even though the banks' operations overlap in many markets in eastern North Carolina.

Bank of the Ozarks recently dissolved its holding company in a move that goes against modern banking strategy. There are, however, strong arguments for other institutions to follow the bank's lead.

The tiny Delaware credit union has just over 500 members and will merge into Del-One following losses of more than $45,000 last year.

The Arkansas bank bought C1 Financial in Florida and Community & Southern Holdings in Georgia last year.

The Treasury Department will take a huge hit when Cecil Bancorp sells its bank, while 1st Mariner Bank in Baltimore will see its equity stake completely wiped out. Cecil opted for bankruptcy court when it was unable to resolve an impasse over its trust-preferred stock.

North American Bancard Holdings has completed its acquisition of Total Merchant Services, a merger that NAB says will make it the seventh largest processor in North America in terms of merchant locations.

CIT will provide revolving and term loan commitments of up to $100 million through a partnership with the Northbrook, Ill., insurance company.

Severn said it believes Mid Maryland Title Co. will complement its existing dealings in mortgages, commercial banking and commercial real estate.

The region is responsible for a third of all bank sellers — and more than half of the industry's overall deal volume.

North Carolina has witnessed wave after wave of banking mergers and consolidations in recnet years, but analysts are mixed on whether or not the credit union can keep its vow in the modern economic landscape.

Tiny Kalamazoo Building Trades CU will merge into KALSEE Credit Union following its CEO's retirement and losses of more than $50,000 for each of the last two years.

Following losses in 2014, the $22 million-asset PCCU has turned a profit for the last two years and was in the black for Q1 2017 and will pay a $400,000 special dividend back to its members as part of the deal.

The combined institution will have more than $600 million in assets and serve more than 62,000 members.

Sellers may shy away from partnering with banks that rely too heavily on one individual for their success, so buyers must show they are ready to handle unexpected departures or illnesses involving key personnel.

Musicians’ Interguild CU will merge with SAG-AFTRA FCU